Forgiving the unforgivable (Michael Berg forgives Zarqawi for hacking off his sons head)

The Sydney Morning Herald ^ | May 1, 2006

[jmc1969]

Michael Berg has come to terms with his son's murderer. But to most Americans that man is still enemy No.1, writes Martin Daly in New York.

In the darkness, when the pain becomes too great, Michael Berg pulls out a chair for the man who decapitated his son and talks to him about compassion and forgiveness.

Michael Berg has cried publicly many times for his dead son but he has forgiven Zarqawi, considered by the Americans to be the premier threat to peace in Iraq, but who remains free despite a $US25 million ($33 million) bounty on his head, and the huge numbers of personnel and technological resources being used to track him down.

In offering forgiveness to a man who this week told the world he planned to continue killing, Berg has had to go down dark, complex paths and has had to come to terms with an horrendous loss that has become public property.

[jmc1969]

And this fool is running for Congress.

[P-40]

The forgiveness has to come from the son, does it not?

[Mr. Mojo]

Offering forgiveness to an unrepentant murderer is a fool's move.

[rhombus]

And this fool is running for Congress.

Never trust a potential politician who so lightly gives away what is not his to give.

[Manic_Episode]

You must not be a parent.

One must forgive or go mad from hate.

[butternut_squash_bisque]

Idiot. Would your dead son would forgive him? I sure as hell, wouldn't.

This dolt and Sheehan would make a perfect couple.

[LibWhacker]

He blames Bush. So I suppose that makes it easier to forgive Zarqawi. What a fool.

[Enchante]

It's easy for him to make his peace with savage murdering terrorists far away who sawed off his son's head - it's only Republicans in the USA that he hates. Terrorists who murder countless thousands of helpless innocents are OK - it's only evil Republicans who want to stand up and fight back that are bad, bad, bad....

[the Real fifi]

The man is a certified crackpot.

[Echo Talon]

Did he ask for forgiveness?

[LoudRepublicangirl]

Perhaps he should make a trip to Iraq, offer himself up to Zarqawi and then see how Martin Luther King-like he has the ability to be.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

His son died to provide amusement for third world trash.

[DennisR]

Correct - the choice is obvious, but some people choose to go made from hate.

[Uncle Vlad]

You're absolutely right. Sometimes forgiveness is not for the other person--it's for you.

[P-40]

One must forgive or go mad from hate.

You can accept reality and live with it, make your peace with life or what have you without forgiving...but the son is the one who took the ultimate loss, not the father. The murderer has not served his punishment either so why even think of forgiving him?

[jazusamo]

This is the guy whose wife wouldn't allow the news media in her house. At least she's sane.

[chesley]

And has he "forgiven" President Bush? I seem to remember some harsh words about his President from this man.

Did Zarqawi ask for his forgiveness? If not, it cannot legitimately be given. Otherwise, he is saying that Zarqawi was right to behead his son. Does he realize that?

[steelyourfaith]

And this fool is running for Congress.

Just what the USofA needs, another Kontempible Kook in Kongress.

[ScottfromNJ]

"In the darkness, when the pain becomes too great, Michael Berg pulls out a chair for the man who decapitated his son and talks to him about compassion and forgiveness."

Man thanks Michael in an emotional moment, then proceeds to decapitate him too.

[manwiththehands]

But has this clown forgiven President Bush? If my memory serves me correctly all this man did whenever a camera was around was cry about his son but blamed President Bush.

I'm not so easily duped by this man's "compassion". He's no better than Cindy Sheehan.